Unfortunately it doesn't. I was given the option to replace it with another from elsewhere in the body, but seem to cope otherwise.
thank you
Cycling with fixed broken spine...good idea?
- Thread starter caw
- Start date
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Unfortunately it doesn't. I was given the option to replace it with another from elsewhere in the body, but seem to cope otherwise.
thank you
henshaw11
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Walton-On-Thames
Crikey, that's a collection of injuries 
- all the best for a good recovery !
Will the spinal fracture heal at some point and be less of a liability ?
I ride a recumbent - tho' it's actually a 2-wheeler with a lower seat height than many - and certainly it gives the back a lot of support. There's three main variations on seat types and I'm sure you'd find one that would suit your back or could be adjusted/padded to fit : profiled hard shell (eg ICE, raptobike, Nazca, Optima) or aluminium sheet (Challenge) in different sizes; webbing style (Greenspeed, Catrike, ICE); two-part adjustable (HPVelotechnik)
A few pros and cons:
Generally they're a bit heavier than uprights, often16-18kg (unless you look at the Challenge Recumbents SL models, they're 2-wheelers and can be bought at about the 22lbs mark)
The muscle usage is a little different to an upright - that might affect you to some degree with a missing glut, but the only answer would be to try one out.
On hills you just have to find the right gear and spin - on the other hand, on rolling hills you can sometime get enough momentum off one hill as to get a long way up the next....
If your back is a bit fragile, you'd probably want one with at least rear suspension to isolate your back from road shocks - on mine I'll still occasionally get some buzz off the road but it has to be a fairly bad surface. The suspension on some bents is aimed more at taking out bigger hits, rather than the smaller stuff, tho' mine seems to make a decent job of both
Some trikes nowadays also have front suspension, that might give a little more isolation - bear in mind with a trike you've got 3 wheel lines which you need to steer around potholes, vs a single line on a two-wheeler.
Filtering through traffic is easier on higher 2-wheelers, whilst it's not impossible on a trike I'm not sure *I'd* want to - that was the reason for me getting a 2-wheeler rather than a trike.
Trikes don't fall over
- eg ice or slippy conditions - and are way easier wrt to hill starts, or even just spinning a ridiculously low gear up hills should you need to, without any stability issues. Oh, and like a go-kart on the way back down 
Here in the SE there's:
Futurecycles in East Sussex handle ICE trikes (mebbe Optima too?), London Recumbents handle Challenge and Hase - and are very helpful and have Dulwich park to ride around in. Bikefix in central London handle Challenge and HPVelotechnik. There's a guy - Kevin at DTek in Ely (nr Cambridge) who's also very helpful and has a huge number of s/h 'bents to try/hire - he supplies ICE and Barchetta. He can also talk for England - tho' in an interesting way ! - so expect to be there a while
I'm one of the riders with a relatively minor condition - I can't ride a bike with bars lower than a typical mtb (and sometime not even then) without the neck muscles going into spasm. Mine (hpvelo. speedmachine) was a choice of not so low as to make filtering difficult, whilst low enough to avoid busting anything in a fall (you don't get much change to catch a slide), plus suspension front/back, and a rather adjustable seat. Oh, and underseat steering rather than above seat, since I've had some problems with ulnar nerve compression in the elbow in the past. But it's not light...
- all the best for a good recovery ! Will the spinal fracture heal at some point and be less of a liability ?
I ride a recumbent - tho' it's actually a 2-wheeler with a lower seat height than many - and certainly it gives the back a lot of support. There's three main variations on seat types and I'm sure you'd find one that would suit your back or could be adjusted/padded to fit : profiled hard shell (eg ICE, raptobike, Nazca, Optima) or aluminium sheet (Challenge) in different sizes; webbing style (Greenspeed, Catrike, ICE); two-part adjustable (HPVelotechnik)
A few pros and cons:
Generally they're a bit heavier than uprights, often16-18kg (unless you look at the Challenge Recumbents SL models, they're 2-wheelers and can be bought at about the 22lbs mark)
The muscle usage is a little different to an upright - that might affect you to some degree with a missing glut, but the only answer would be to try one out.
On hills you just have to find the right gear and spin - on the other hand, on rolling hills you can sometime get enough momentum off one hill as to get a long way up the next....
If your back is a bit fragile, you'd probably want one with at least rear suspension to isolate your back from road shocks - on mine I'll still occasionally get some buzz off the road but it has to be a fairly bad surface. The suspension on some bents is aimed more at taking out bigger hits, rather than the smaller stuff, tho' mine seems to make a decent job of both
Some trikes nowadays also have front suspension, that might give a little more isolation - bear in mind with a trike you've got 3 wheel lines which you need to steer around potholes, vs a single line on a two-wheeler.
Filtering through traffic is easier on higher 2-wheelers, whilst it's not impossible on a trike I'm not sure *I'd* want to - that was the reason for me getting a 2-wheeler rather than a trike.
Trikes don't fall over
- eg ice or slippy conditions - and are way easier wrt to hill starts, or even just spinning a ridiculously low gear up hills should you need to, without any stability issues. Oh, and like a go-kart on the way back down Here in the SE there's:
Futurecycles in East Sussex handle ICE trikes (mebbe Optima too?), London Recumbents handle Challenge and Hase - and are very helpful and have Dulwich park to ride around in. Bikefix in central London handle Challenge and HPVelotechnik. There's a guy - Kevin at DTek in Ely (nr Cambridge) who's also very helpful and has a huge number of s/h 'bents to try/hire - he supplies ICE and Barchetta. He can also talk for England - tho' in an interesting way ! - so expect to be there a while
I'm one of the riders with a relatively minor condition - I can't ride a bike with bars lower than a typical mtb (and sometime not even then) without the neck muscles going into spasm. Mine (hpvelo. speedmachine) was a choice of not so low as to make filtering difficult, whilst low enough to avoid busting anything in a fall (you don't get much change to catch a slide), plus suspension front/back, and a rather adjustable seat. Oh, and underseat steering rather than above seat, since I've had some problems with ulnar nerve compression in the elbow in the past. But it's not light...
Thanks, I just had a brief look. Could be something to consider. I have seen a cyclist around the bromley area on one of those.
thanks
Tasker
New Member
- Location
- stoke on trent
Honestly, if you want to do it then have a go.
Whatever you choose to do you're an incredibly brave and determined person to even ponder getting back on a bike which makes me think you will and I for one support you in that providing of course it doesn't do anything to worsen your condition.
As others have advised, do discuss it with the medical people first, then having got their opinion make your own informed choice.
Good Luck.
Whatever you choose to do you're an incredibly brave and determined person to even ponder getting back on a bike which makes me think you will and I for one support you in that providing of course it doesn't do anything to worsen your condition.
As others have advised, do discuss it with the medical people first, then having got their opinion make your own informed choice.
Good Luck.
ramses
Active Member
- Location
- Bournemouth
Holy Cr*p!
Well done you for working your way back from such an horrific accident!
I take my hat off to you for wanting to get back on your bike, I'm not sure how I would deal with that.
I'm guessing my wife and my mum would hate me to get back on the bike!
I would say cycling has helped my back (porlapsed disc, some years back), it has strengthened up nicely, but quite frankly that's insignificant to what you have suffered.
Take the medical advice, and only do what is sensible to do, as I am sure you will.
Good luck with the future recovery, and please do keep us informed of your progress and whether you get back in the saddle.
All the best.
Well done you for working your way back from such an horrific accident!
I take my hat off to you for wanting to get back on your bike, I'm not sure how I would deal with that.
I'm guessing my wife and my mum would hate me to get back on the bike!
I would say cycling has helped my back (porlapsed disc, some years back), it has strengthened up nicely, but quite frankly that's insignificant to what you have suffered.
Take the medical advice, and only do what is sensible to do, as I am sure you will.
Good luck with the future recovery, and please do keep us informed of your progress and whether you get back in the saddle.
All the best.
I'm not scared to get back on a bike and cycle on the road again. If it wasn't for the back, I would do. I've substituted back to an exercise bike, which is more effort and has the same fitness benefits.
My main concern is my mother, father and family. Just like you say your wife and mum would hate you, I'm in the same scenario. They went through hell seeing me in the condition I was, so they have lost faith in my ability to be safe on the road. The only argument I seem to have is " its no different than a 16 wheeler lorry ploughing into the side of your car... its still an accident...would it stop you from driving again?" .
realistically it would not be fare on them.
Thelma
New Member
- Location
- Manchester
Good lord you're doing amazingly! Can I suggest more pies though? You sound like you need a few good feeds! Good luck with getting on some wheels again.
henshaw11
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Walton-On-Thames
> so they have lost faith in my ability to be safe on the road. The only argument I seem to have is " its no different than a 16 wheeler lorry ploughing into the side of your car... its still an accident...would it stop you from driving again?" .
realistically it would not be fare on them.
But is it fair on you?
You can't live your life putting up with other peoples fears and prejudices - irrational or otherwise - and they need to realise that.
When I was at uni I came close getting a motorbike - having been interested in them as a kid. 'Ooh, I wouldn't be able to sleep' was the reaction from my mother. So I didn't. The hypocrisy is that my father had one (from new in '37!), she had a provisional licence, and they went everywhere on it for many years. Periodically I'm regailed by tales of how good it all was...
(About 12 years ago I decided to get my bike licence anyway - tho' I haven't ridden for ~8 yrs now. My OH was fine with it anyway, but my mother's such bloody fusspot/mitherer/nag that I've never told her - if I had I'd never have heard the end of it - she's bad enough when she gets a bee in her bonnet about other things periodically !)
realistically it would not be fare on them.
But is it fair on you?
You can't live your life putting up with other peoples fears and prejudices - irrational or otherwise - and they need to realise that.
When I was at uni I came close getting a motorbike - having been interested in them as a kid. 'Ooh, I wouldn't be able to sleep' was the reaction from my mother. So I didn't. The hypocrisy is that my father had one (from new in '37!), she had a provisional licence, and they went everywhere on it for many years. Periodically I'm regailed by tales of how good it all was...
(About 12 years ago I decided to get my bike licence anyway - tho' I haven't ridden for ~8 yrs now. My OH was fine with it anyway, but my mother's such bloody fusspot/mitherer/nag that I've never told her - if I had I'd never have heard the end of it - she's bad enough when she gets a bee in her bonnet about other things periodically !)
neil earley
Guru
- Location
- Neath
you must be the bravest guy on here ! I had 4 ops to my lower spine due to a accident at work which resulted in me having 2 disc implants at L4-5 cage and metal posts inserted [fusion} which has left me with poor mobility and lots of pain which is nothing compared to what you have suffered? I have just started to learn to ride a recumbent bike with the guidance of cyclists on here who I cant thank enough. Like you have been told seek medical advice dont give up , stay positive and your def not on your own ! I completed a 5 mile ride yesterday with one or 2 stops which doesnt seem a lot but it was a milestone for me ! couldnt stop grinning , so whatever you decide good luck and a speedy recovery ps keep us posted on your progress
frank9755
Cyclist
- Location
- West London
Chris,
Well done on winning the most important battle - still being here.
You'll get lots of advice, much of it good, all of it well-meaning, and pointing in different directions. It probably splits into three types:
1. Advice which reflects the advisor's own fears and beliefs than about you. This is only natural and is well-meaning but you have to recognise that in interpreting it. However, it may not be of much practical use to you as it is not really about you but about the person giving it.
2. Objective / factual information. This is true, or at least supported by research. However it may not be entirely relevant to your situation and is highly unlikely to cover the whole story, so can be a useful input but unlikely to give you the full answer. But here are two bits of it:
a. Cycling is still safe. One statistic I came across recently is that, if you ride for 20 miles a day in the UK you can expect to ride for over 10,000 years before you are likely to be killed. It's just that you were the one that had the rare accident that we all have a minute chance of having every time we go out. Or stay in - nothing is risk free.
b. A cyclist is more likely to have an accident or sustain an injury off-road than on it. This includes cycle paths, where the junctions are particularly hazardous, and shared use footpaths.
3. Specific advice on what you should do. This would be the most useful, but no-one on here can really give you it as we don't really know the extent of your injuries and also what you are like as a person (although the fact that you are even raising the question gives a few hints!). Your doctors are the most important source of this, but you have to ask them the right questions to make sure they are basing it more on type 2 (facts) than type 1 (their own fears / beliefs) inputs. You can also talk to or read about others who have faced similar challenges. Neil (above) clearly has something to say on this. Another good person to approach, who has been alluded to upthread, is Arallsop on here. Andy had to give up riding an upright so got a recumbent and rode London-Edinburgh-London. Then in January he had his leg broken in a crash but still showed up last weekend to ride to Southend (and back) using just the other leg to power the bike.
Good luck with whatever you decide. It really is your decision. For what its worth, I really hope you can get back on a bike, but couldn't advise you to do so unless you feel it is the right decision for you.
Well done on winning the most important battle - still being here.
You'll get lots of advice, much of it good, all of it well-meaning, and pointing in different directions. It probably splits into three types:
1. Advice which reflects the advisor's own fears and beliefs than about you. This is only natural and is well-meaning but you have to recognise that in interpreting it. However, it may not be of much practical use to you as it is not really about you but about the person giving it.
2. Objective / factual information. This is true, or at least supported by research. However it may not be entirely relevant to your situation and is highly unlikely to cover the whole story, so can be a useful input but unlikely to give you the full answer. But here are two bits of it:
a. Cycling is still safe. One statistic I came across recently is that, if you ride for 20 miles a day in the UK you can expect to ride for over 10,000 years before you are likely to be killed. It's just that you were the one that had the rare accident that we all have a minute chance of having every time we go out. Or stay in - nothing is risk free.
b. A cyclist is more likely to have an accident or sustain an injury off-road than on it. This includes cycle paths, where the junctions are particularly hazardous, and shared use footpaths.
3. Specific advice on what you should do. This would be the most useful, but no-one on here can really give you it as we don't really know the extent of your injuries and also what you are like as a person (although the fact that you are even raising the question gives a few hints!). Your doctors are the most important source of this, but you have to ask them the right questions to make sure they are basing it more on type 2 (facts) than type 1 (their own fears / beliefs) inputs. You can also talk to or read about others who have faced similar challenges. Neil (above) clearly has something to say on this. Another good person to approach, who has been alluded to upthread, is Arallsop on here. Andy had to give up riding an upright so got a recumbent and rode London-Edinburgh-London. Then in January he had his leg broken in a crash but still showed up last weekend to ride to Southend (and back) using just the other leg to power the bike.
Good luck with whatever you decide. It really is your decision. For what its worth, I really hope you can get back on a bike, but couldn't advise you to do so unless you feel it is the right decision for you.
I'm sorry to hear about your accident. Sounds like you have been through the wars. A broken back is not fun. I'm glad to hear you completed that journey. Does cycling hurt, or make your more susceptible to pain with you spine damage (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm keeping the fitness on an exercise bike. My back and hips seem fine. The backside tends to ache after a while, like any prolonged sitting. Unlike a bike, you don't get the uneven terrain and need to stand and power into climbs etc, on an exercise bike.
